Washington (CNN) - The federal budget has always been a tool for partisanship, but never more so than in the past few years.

Like the awkward and irreverent distant relative at the dinner table, the Senate tried for several years to ignore it. But everyone knew it was in the room, helping to create a permanent state of partisan gridlock.

(CNN) - Some social conservatives are blasting Utah's ruling striking down part of that state's law banning polygamy.

The suit was brought by the stars of the television reality series "Sister Wives," and a federal judge's ruling Friday throws out the law's section prohibiting "cohabitation," saying it violates constitutional guarantees of due process and religious freedom.FULL POST

(CNN) - White House party crasher and one-time reality TV star Michaele Salahi tied the knot with Journey guitarist Neal Schon in San Francisco over the weekend.

CNN affiliate KGO reports the event took place under the rotunda at the Palace of Fine Art, and the couple made the ceremony available to viewers on pay-per-view for $14.95 - money that will in part go to typhoon relief in the Philippines.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - The top NSA official tasked with assessing the damage from Edward Snowden's leaks says he would consider amnesty for the former contractor in exchange for a halt to the flow of top secret information about U.S. spying.

Snowden, currently in Moscow evading a U.S. warrant for his arrest on espionage charges, leaked information on widespread data collection that's spurred outcry and forced President Barack Obama to review the spy agency's powers.

Washington (CNN) - It was smooth sailing in the House, but things are looking much tighter in the Senate for a bipartisan budget proposal that aims to avert another government shutdown and relax sweeping forced spending cuts.

Still, despite strong opposition to the compromise from Republicans, supporters are within striking distance of rounding up the votes they need to pass it in the Senate by the end of this week.

Washington (CNN) - The Senate Democrat's re-election committee is touting what it calls its best non-election year November fundraising haul ever.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced Monday that it raised $5.1 million last month, and some of that credit goes to President Barack Obama, who was the main attraction at some top dollar fundraisers for the committee.

Washington (CNN) – The budget deal struck by Republican and Democratic lawmakers that easily passed the House of Representatives last week has run into some opposition in the Senate. But according to CNN's vote count, the deal appears close to passage.

There are currently a total of 39 aye votes for the budget, according to the count, with five Republicans joining 33 Democrats and one independent. All no votes, according to the count, are coming from Republicans, with 23 Senate offices telling CNN they plan to vote against the deal.